Examining 6,500 adults, a recent study found that people with the highest Life’s Essential 8 score, on average, tested six years younger biologically than their actual age, indicating a significant link between cardiovascular health, biological age and the risk of age-related diseases.
The study reveals that adhering to the American Heart Association’s Essential 8 checklist for good cardiovascular health can potentially reduce biological age by up to six years. The Essential 8 habits include healthy sleep, not smoking, regular physical activity, a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, and managing healthy blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels.
The research demonstrated a dose-dependent association: as cardiovascular health improved, biological aging slowed down. Individuals with poor cardiovascular health, on the other hand, exhibited faster aging.
Participants with high cardiovascular health, with an average actual age of 41, had a biological age of 36, while those with low cardiovascular health, with an average actual age of 53, had a biological age of 57. The study used participants’ actual age along with nine blood markers for metabolism, inflammation, and organ function to determine biological age. The findings emphasize the importance of lifestyle habits in influencing not only lifespan but also healthspan, providing insights into the link between chronological age and biological age.
Learn more at https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/good-cardiovascular-habits-can-knock-6-years-off-your-biological-age/